SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries didn’t set out to form an international-heavy roster in Friday’s WNBA expansion draft as the league’s 13th franchise continues to take shape. Heading into the draft, head coach Natalie Nakase and general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said the nonnegotiable attributes they emphasized were “competitiveness, high character and a never satisfied mindset.”
But by the end of the draft, Nakase and Nyanin couldn’t help but be struck by their roster’s initial international presence. Seven of the 11 players the Valkyries selected Friday hail from outside the United States.
“The international part … that wasn’t my mindset,” Nakase said. “It was building the best team that I wanted to build.”
Friday’s selections included Temi Fagbenle (Great Britain), Stephanie Talbot (Australia), Julie Vanloo (Belgium), Maria Conde (Spain), Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy) and Iliana Rupert and Carla Leite, both of whom hail from France.
Nakase said she was particularly excited by Fagbenle’s availability. In 2024, the veteran Indiana Fever forward built an instant rapport with No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark and broke into the starting lineup just seven games into the season. Fagbenle’s defensive presence was a major factor for the Fever. But she played in only 22 games after sustaining three injuries.
Golden State also acquired players who have made their mark in the WNBA, including Kate Martin and Kayla Thornton.
Martin, who was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces in 2024, will be reunited with Nakase, who served as an assistant coach on Becky Hammon’s staff. Early in her rookie season, Martin carved out a substantial role as the Aces dealt with numerous injuries. She averaged 19.3 minutes over her first 10 games and shot 37% from 3-point range.
But as the Aces regained their health, Martin’s responsibilities shrank. She gives the Valkyries a young player with a high ceiling.
Thornton, an eight-year veteran, helped the New York Liberty secure their first WNBA title this past season. She played in 11 playoff games and averaged 12.5 minutes — the second most among New York’s reserves. She is one of four Valkyries draftees who have won a WNBA championship.
“Having championship experience is vital,” Nakase said. “You’ve been in those big moments. You’re in those big locker room meetings and those practices that go down to the little details with the playoffs. So yeah, that was a big piece into bringing this team together. We have a goal, and we want to get there with the right players but also with the right minds at the same time.”
The picks were announced in three groups of four in alphabetical order by team name:
Atlanta Dream: Iliana Rupert, C
Connecticut Sun: Veronica Burton, G
Dallas Wings: Carla Leite, PG
Indiana Fever: Temi Fagbenle, C
Las Vegas Aces: Kate Martin, G
Los Angeles Sparks: Stephanie Talbot, F
Minnesota Lynx: Cecilia Zandalasini, F
New York Liberty: Kayla Thornton, F
Phoenix Mercury: Monique Billings, F
Washington Mystics: Julie Vanloo, G
“Our goal was to construct a roster that embodies both versatility and depth, bringing in a strong mix of leadership, defense, and scoring ability,” Nyanin said. “These players were carefully chosen not only for their skills on the court, but also for their ability to fit into the culture we’re working to build here at Golden State.”
Billings was the only unrestricted free agent the Valkyries acquired, but Nyanin did not commit to giving her the core designation. Currently playing in China, Billings is the only player Nyanin was not in contact with on draft day.
Golden State opted not to select a player from the Seattle Storm, with Nyanin saying she didn’t feel any of the Storm’s available players would make the impact the Valkyries were looking for.
In a somewhat surprising move, the Valkyries opted not to make any trades on draft day, although the organization said it held multiple meetings with teams around the league. Nyanin said she wanted to draft players she could see being a part of the franchise moving forward, rather than as an asset for a trade pick.
Only three of the players Golden State selected are currently under contract for 2025, leaving Golden State $1.2 million in cap space, the league’s second-highest total after the Connecticut Sun, according to HerHoopStats.
It gives the Valkyries plenty of flexibility to operate within free agency, which begins in January.
“We want to be competitive from day one … so we’re going to put our best foot forward,” Nyanin said regarding how aggressive the team plans to be in free agency. “We want to make sure … they know we want them. Hopefully when we call, they say, ‘Yes, 100 percent,’ and they’re coming.”
Friday marked the WNBA’s first expansion draft since the Dream joined the league in 2008. All 12 of the WNBA’s other teams were able to protect up to six players — including those who finished the season on their roster and all others to whom the team holds rights. Those six players were exempt from the expansion draft, as were unrestricted free agents who have already played the maximum two years on contracts signed with the core designation.
The league did not make the list of protected players public.
The Valkyries could choose only one player from each team, and only one total unrestricted free agent, who then becomes eligible to be designated a core player by the Valkyries. WNBA teams are allowed 12 players on a roster, and the Valkyries will continue to build out their personnel in free agency as well as in the WNBA draft on April 14, when they have the Nos. 5, 17 and 29 picks.
Ahead of the 2026 season, the WNBA will hold additional expansion drafts for Portland and Toronto, the league’s 14th and 15th teams. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said she expects the league to grow to 16 teams by 2028.
Last month, Rock Entertainment Group, which is also tied to the NBA’s Cavaliers, said it would bid to bring a WNBA expansion team to Cleveland. Philadelphia, Denver and South Florida are among other cities said to be exploring expansion bids.
The Valkyries will begin play in the WNBA next summer and host the Sparks on opening day May 16.
